State and Local Reporter - 10/07/2004 (Plain Text Version)

Duane Willenbring, Chair
Saint Cloud, Minnesota

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In this issue:
NAHB Unveils Results of 2003-2004 Critical Issues Survey
Now Accepting Nominations for 2004 SLGA Recognition Awards
The Clock Is Ticking on Discounts for the SLGA Conference in Biloxi
Minnesota, Pennsylvania Advance Legislative Solutions for Unregulated Municipal Professional Fees
NAHB Awards Grants to Projects in California, Colorado, Maryland, Minnesota and Texas
Help Your Members Vote
Nonprofit Election Activities: Dos and Don'ts
Legislative Group Makes Workforce Housing a Priority
Cities Struggling to Make Ends Meet, According to League of Cities Report
Industry News from New Jersey, New York and Texas
Study Finds Multifamily Housing Does Not Contribute to School Crowding

Help Your Members Vote

To help ensure that the housing industry gets out the vote in the November elections, NAHB has partnered with HelpingAmericansVote.org to provide an online service dedicated to making voter participation and registration easier.

Members and their families, employees and friends can simply go to http://HomeBuilders.HelpingAmericansVote.org and follow the steps to register to vote or get a ballot to vote early or as an absentee. Members and associations can also use this site to conduct an electronic voter registration drive — eliminating the costly pay-stub voter registration drives of the past. Promotional tools are available to help advertise this service to your members.

“We’re committed to giving home builders a strong voice in choosing their elected officials this November,” said NAHB President Bobby Rayburn. “This Web site offers our members the tools they need to make the voting process as easy and uncomplicated as possible.”

A variety of public interest groups — including the National Association of Realtors®, the National Rifle Association, the National Restaurant Association, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce — and major corporations — including Boeing, DaimlerChrysler, Charles Schwab and others — are using similar versions of these online election tools to encourage their employees and customers to vote.

Following are some facts about the current election process in the states:

80% of the states today allow their citizens to vote early — some as early as 43 days before Election Day.
Every state and the District of Columbia has provisions for absentee voting. Most states will allow a voter who is away on business on Election Day to cast an absentee ballot.
47 states and the District of Columbia are currently accepting absentee ballots.
30 states allow unconditional early voting.

For an Aug. 25 Washington Post story on early voting and the online registration service, click here. (A free sign-in is required to access this site.)

For more information on Home Builders Helping Americans Vote or for help linking this Web site to your own Web page, e-mail Marie Yarroll at NAHB or call her at 800 368-5242 x8279.